Maverick’s Baghdad Extraction: A Homebrew NES Zapper Adventure

There are a fair amount of homebrew games out there now for the original 8-bit NES, but almost none that utilize one of its core peripherals: the Zapper light gun that came with most models. RetroBro Gaming Entertainment, the company name of a one-man development team, decided to tackle this challenge and produce, for the first time in many years, a brand-new game for the Zapper — as well, as, for the first time ever, a Zapper-compatible adventure game.

Yes, the idea is that it’s like Zelda, only you grab your gun every few screens. Gameplay in Maverick’s Baghdad Extraction involves guiding your soldier with the control pad, then when prompted, switching to the Zapper during shooting events. You are John Maverick, stereotypical muscular Navy Seal whose forces have been captured by Saddam Hussein (it’s a period piece by the way). When the game isn’t a front-facing target shooter, it’s an overhead maze of underground rooms, where John must track down keys and other items to advance. There is a bonus “Arcade Mode” consisting of just the shooting sequences.

For the record, if you don’t own a Zapper, the game is still playable by using the controller to aim the target reticle; several Zapper games of the past had this option. Using the Zapper is the superior control scheme though.

The Kickstarter campaign for Maverick’s Baghdad Extraction is live now. A digital copy can be yours for a $12 pledge. If you prefer physical but just want the cartridge, there’s a $40 pledge for that (in both NES and Famicom forms!) The complete box, NES or Famicom, comes with a $60 pledge. And a “Limited Maverick Edition”, which includes a 11×17 foldout detailed map with hidden locations, John Maverick’s dog tags, and a white cartridge, sits at the top for an $85 pledge.

The campaign for Maverick’s Baghdad Extraction wraps up June 12, Copies begin shipping this October.